Page 44 of Prove Me Wrong
Clenching my teeth tightly, I open it to see that Julian has sent me the schedules and team orders. I let out a groan. “I have to shower. You can keep sleeping until Jade wakes up.”
“Okay,” she whispers and flicks me a tight smile that makes my stomach knot.
“Okay,” I echo, and make my way upstairs into the bathroom. Standing in the shower, my heart rate spikes like I’ve just inhaled several shots at once as I hastily scrub at my body.
I kissed her forehead.
I’ve been so careful to keep her comfortable around me, and the moment I’m stressed and exhausted, I overstep. I’m now praying that I didn’t just screw up all the progress we’ve made.
Towelling myself dry, I dress in fresh clothes and walk back into my bedroom to find Mia curled up under my soft covers. Her eyes are shut, and I can tell that she’s asleep from the slow rise of her chest.
There’s something about having her in my bed, wrapped up in my scent and warmth that makes my racing chest pound heavily. It looks perfect to me with her dark hair sprawled out over the pillows and hands tucked up under her chin. I want to climb in beside her, to hold her while she sleeps, but I can’t.
I quietly grab my things before stopping by Jade’s room to tell her goodbye and that I’ll see her tomorrow. She’s sleeping peacefully, and as much as I want to pick her up and cuddle her before I go, I don’t want to wake her. If I do, then Mia will need to be awake, and she looks as exhausted as I feel.
“I’ll see you tomorrow night, baby girl. Be good for Grey, please.” I kiss Jade’s soft cheek before hauling my things to my ute and driving away right on six.
“Glad you could make it,Noah. We didn’t want to have to pull out of the race.”
“How’s the car looking?”
Julian looks at me. He’s older, with peppered hair and wrinkles framing his dark eyes. Dressed in his business suit and polished loafers that I’m surprised aren’t caked in dust, I yawn before he answers me. “It’s looking fine. We just need to adjust it, and then it’ll be ready. I’ll have your stuff put in the trailer while you’re here. You have a hotel room in town with the team. Qualifying is at three, and then shootout is at four. There’s a team meeting at five, then you can go relax for the night.”
“Great. Thanks,” I murmur.
Julian gives me a small smile. “How’s Jade?”
“Teething. She’s an angel though, compared to the other kids her age. She hardly makes a sound. The latest thing is her tipping over her food that she doesn’t like.”
My team manager chuckles while shaking his head. “Yep. Rachel was like that too when she was Jade’s age. Although she would scream all night and wouldn’t let us touch her gums. You don’t know how manynights I went without sleep. I thought her lungs would burst at some point; she was so loud.”
I bite my cheek as a grin spreads across my mouth. “Yeah, Jade sounds like a saint now.”
Julian shoves me lightly, and I let out a laugh. “Go suit up for your adjustments.”
“Aye aye, captain.” I give him a small salute before strolling towards the pits. Pulling out my phone, I send Mia a quick text before I have to put my phone away to prepare for qualifying.
ME: Just letting you know I got here.
ME: I hope Jade is behaving for you.
I can’t bring myself to text her about this morning. I don’t know what I was thinking; although that was the problem. The phone call and rush to get ready in thirty minutes didn’t set my mind straight. Mia didn’t say anything, though. I think that’s what’s making me so nervous, the fact that I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
Swallowing, I put my phone in my bag, leaving it in the pits, and move to the trailer. Changing into my orange, black and white race suit, the engineers work at adjusting the Ford to fit my height, weight bearing, arm length and posture. They fiddle with buttons and wires, fixing the bumper and checking the engine before it’s revved up, and I drive it out of the pits.
Qualifying was smooth. Finishing sixth, I had a thirty-minute window before the shootout with the top ten finishers. The shootout was tough, but I secured fourth position, behind Daniels, Carmichael and Stevens. It’s going to be a tough race tomorrow, but starting high on the grid is a great advantage.
Pulling my helmet off, my fingers run through my sweat-slick hair. Heading into the pits, I guzzle down water before grabbing my bag for a shower.
I haven’t had the chance to think about Grey or Jade since I jumped in the car, but as soon as I unzip my duffle, the first thing I reach for is my phone.
GREY: Thanks for letting me know.
GREY: She’s teething again. Gave her medicine and cream.
GREY: Good luck for qualifying.
Relief trickles through me as I skim her messages. At least Mia’s not completely upset with me. She didn’t ignore me, but then again, she’s working. I suppose these are work messages, and not personal ones.
